Army Sergeant Sentenced for Stealing Military Equipment Sold on eBay

Strategic Insights -

A court in Shrewsbury, England has heard the case of Peter Sewell, a 42-year-old army sergeant who stole military equipment from Clive Barracks, a county Army base in Shropshire. Sewell, who served in the 1st Royal Irish Battalion, stole ration packs, medical supplies, and car batteries over a period of two years, selling them to Oliver Barrett, 28, for a total of £31,195 on eBay.

Key Takeaways:

  • Peter Sewell, a 42-year-old army sergeant, stole military equipment from Clive Barracks in Shropshire over a period of two years, including ration packs, medical supplies, and car batteries.
  • Sewell, who served in the 1st Royal Irish Battalion, sold the stolen goods to Oliver Barrett, 28, for a total of £31,195 on eBay.
  • Barrett, who had initially believed the goods were legitimate, was also charged with handling stolen goods.
  • Sewell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and two charges of fraud, while Barrett pleaded guilty to one count of handling stolen goods.
  • Sewell was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for two years, and 160 hours of unpaid work.
  • Barrett was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and 120 hours of unpaid work.
  • The court recognized Sewell's "exemplary conduct as a soldier and a colour sergeant" as a mitigating factor in his sentencing.
  • The breach of trust was described by the court as "significant" and "high".
  • Sewell's actions included selling the stolen goods to a Hinstock scrapyard, where they were sold for £715 and £608.

Statistics:

  • £31,195: the total amount of money made by selling stolen military equipment on eBay.
  • 2 years: the duration of time over which Sewell stole and sold the military equipment.
  • 22 months: the length of Sewell's suspended prison sentence.
  • 160 hours: the amount of unpaid work that Sewell must complete.
  • 8 months: the length of Barrett's suspended prison sentence.
  • 120 hours: the amount of unpaid work that Barrett must complete.

Sources:

  • "Army sergeant stole military equipment sold on eBay". BBC News.
  • "Sergeant found guilty of stealing military equipment sold on eBay". The Guardian.
  • "Army sergeant suspended sentence for stealing military equipment". Sky News.